Step for shipsj ladders or fire-escapes



(No Model.)

1). H. RIVERS.

STEP FOR SHIPS LADDERS 0R FIRE ESGAPES.

No. 441,585. Patented Nov. 25, 1890.

IN l/f/VTOI? ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES DAVID H. RIVERS, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS-TON, MAINE.

STEP FOR SHIPS LADDERS OR FlRE-ESCAP ES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,585, dated November25, 1890.

Serial No. 362,351. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, DAVID E. RIVERS, of Thomaston, in the county of Knoxand State of Maine,have invented a new and Improved Step for ShipsLadders or Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to improvements in steps for ships ladders orfire-escapes, and it may also be applied to all varieties of ropeladders.

lhe object of my invention is to produce a simple, durable, andconvenient step which may be quickly and easily secured to the ropes ofa ladder, and which when attached will not encumber the ropes, but willpermit of their being rolled up into a very small compass.

To this end my invention consists in certain features of constructionand combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described,and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a perspective View ofthe step embodying my invention,showing the same applied to the ropes of a ladder. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same with the portion adapted for attachment to theropes in vertical section, and Fig. 3 is a broken horizontal section onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged Scale.

The step comprises the two side brackets A, the connecting-rung D, andthe means for clamping the rung and brackets to the lad der-ropes, asdescribed below. The brackets A are provided with a flat base A, adaptedto rest against the surface of a wall, and with the outwardly-extendingbraces A which gradually converge, and which are united at their outerends by means of a hollow box A having its outer end open, as shown. Thebrackets are also provided at top and bottom with eyes a, so that theseveral brackets of a ladder may be united at their bases by means of acord or chain, if desired. A block B is held in the box A so as to behorizontally movable therein, and fixed to the outer end of the block isa sleeve 0, extending at right angles to the block and adapted toinclose the side ropes E of the ladder. The block B is provided with anelongated transverse opening I), which extends outwardly through theinner shell of the sleeve 0, and the ladder-rung D extends through theseopenings in the blocks 13. The rung D is preferably hollow. A bolt Fextends loosely through a hole in the inner wall of each of the boxes Athrough a threaded holein the inner end of the block B, and into a holeformed in the rung D. It will thus be seen that by tight ening the boltsthe block B and sleeve 0 will be drawn inward, which will cause the rungD to impinge upon the ropes E, thus binding the rung to the ropes, (seeFig. 3,) and the bolts F will prevent the rung from being movedlaterally.

To adjust the steps to a ladder, the ropes E, which are preferably ofwire, are passed through the sleeve 0 of the steps, and the bolt F istightened, so as to hold the step in position upon the rope, and it willbe readily seen that a ladder provided with these steps may be droppedinto position and that the bases A of the brackets will assume avertical position against the wall of the ship or building, as the casemay be, and the ladder is then in position for use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A step for ladders and fire-escapes, comprising arung, brackets for receiving the ends thereof, sleeves for embracing theladder-ropes, and clamping devices acting to move the sleeves relativelyto the rungs and thereby clamp the ropes, substantially as described.

2. A step for ladders and fire-escapes,comprising two side bracketshaving their outer ends terminating in horizontal boxes, blocks arrangedto move horizontally in the boxes, said blocks carrying sleeves adaptedto inclose a rope and being connected by a rung, as shown, and means fortightening the rung and sleeves upon the rope, substantially asdescribed.

3. Astep for ladders and fire-escapes, com prising two side bracketshaving their outer ends terminating in boxes, as shown, blocks mountedin the boxes and provided with elongated transverse openings, a rungextending through the openings in the boxes, sleeves fixed to the blocksand having an inner opening opposite the rungs, and bolts extendingthrough the boxes and blocks and connecting with the rung, substantiallyas described.

4. A step forladders and fire-escapes, eomprising two side bracketshaving eyes at their upper and lower portions by means of which they maybe connected, a connecting-r11 ng mounted in the outer ends of thebrackets, 10

sleeves mounted in the outer ends of the brackets and adapted to inelosea rope, and means for fastening the sleeves and rung to the ropes,substantially as described.

